Scaffold connection with concave engagement and gravity lock

ABSTRACT

An improved scaffold connection for engagement of scaffold members to support members. The connection employs a ring member engaged to the vertical scaffold member. A rotatable latch member engages a lower surface of the ring member to maintain a hook or support portion of a latch body on the upper surface of the ring member. A locking member rotationally engaged to the latch member, is gravity activated to rotate and engage the latch body to hold the latch member engaged to the ring member.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/932861 filed Jun. 1, 2007 and incorporated herein in its entirety byreference. This invention relates generally to connections forscaffolding. More particularly the disclosed device relates to animproved scaffolding connection employed between horizontal and verticalscaffold members, which is highly resistant to disconnection fromimpacts and from lateral forces that can impact the horizontal scaffoldmembers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

2. Prior Art

Scaffold connection designs for engaging the horizontal members ofscaffolding to the vertical members providing support have been employedfor hundreds of years in different forms. Modernly, the concern forworker safety has been a driving force for the creation of lockingconnectors for the horizontal members to the vertical members. Differentdesigns have been taught from annular embers on the vertical postsengaging connectors to a wedge assembly which holds a connection betweena horizontal and a vertical member held in place with a wedge driveninto place. However, the wedge form of connection is hard to install andremove as it requires the wedge to be driven in and out with tools.

A great advance was provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,078,532 and 5,028,164which taught the employment of ring members surrounding the verticalupright members and a triggered connection and the drawings andspecification of which are incorporated herein by reference. While thesedevices have been more successful in shortening installation times sincetools are not required, recently a concern has arisen due to thedislodgement of horizontal members occurring if the triggered ringconnection is struck with a lateral force such as a worker hitting ahorizontal member with their body too hard.

Consequently, while ease of installation is still a primary concern dueto the high cost of labor and downtime on job sites, the ever increasingneed to improve worker safety, even in extreme or unlikely occurrences,is always paramount in design concerns. Thus, an improved triggeredconnection of the horizontal members to the vertical scaffold memberswhich allows for fast installations, but resists disconnection fromimpacts, is highly desirable.

It is another object of this invention to provide a scaffold connector,which is easily engaged, better resists lateral forces, and provides alocking mechanism that engages by default using gravity activation tomaintain the connector locked until it is intentionally disengaged.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of the scaffold connectordevice as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed and described herein is an improved scaffold connector for theengagement of horizontal scaffold members to the vertical memberssupporting them. The connection employs a first ring surrounding thecircumference of the upright member and spaced from a second, similarlyconfigured, ring member. The first ring member has an upper side and alower side extending to a distal edge from a fixed engagement to thevertical scaffold members employed to support horizontal members. Thesecond ring member also has an upper side and a lower side and extendsto a distal edge from a fixed engagement to the vertical scaffoldmembers.

Each horizontal member has a triggered connector on each end, adapted toengage with the ring members on the vertical members. A connector bodyhaving a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom and sides, is fixedlyattachable at its second end to one end of a horizontal scaffold memberhaving an upper surface. Extending from the connector body is a sectionfor attachment of the connector body to the upper side of the first ringmember extending from the vertical scaffold members. A latch memberpositioned in a cavity of the connector body has a first end extendingthrough the first opening and the latch member pivots within the cavityso as to bear a support surface on the first end against a lower side ofthe first ring member when the support surface is positioned below thelower side of the first ring member.

In a marked improvement to this system the lower side of the first ringmember is concave in shape and the support surface of the latch memberhas a complimentary shape so as to settle into the concave lower sidewhen positioned below it. This engagement of the concave lower surfaceof the ring member and curved support surface of the latch, provides anespecially good engagement that has shown to be highly resistant to anyaccidental disconnect when the horizontal member or the connector bodyis struck with force from the side, such as by a worker walking on thescaffold falling against it and producing lateral force to theconnection.

Further, a gravity lock, also in the preferred embodiment engagedrotationally with the latch member, will naturally lock the latch memberby rotating to a locked engagement with an aperture formed in theconnector body. Thus, once the latch is allowed to engage the bottomsurface of the ring member the user releases the handle on the latch andthe lock handle, and by default, the gravity activated lock will rotateto a locked position engaged with the connector body. This prevents thehandle of the latch from being pressed downward to release theengagement with the ring member until the gravity lock is intentionallyrotated out of engagement with the connector body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention showing theannular ring member on the vertical scaffold member having a concavebottom surface engaged with the latch member having a complimentarysurface to that of the concave surface of the ring member.

FIG. 2 depicts the device of FIG. 1 having a gravity actuated lockingmechanism to assure engagement in a locked and unlocked position bydefault when assembling the device.

FIG. 3 depicts the device of FIG. 2 showing the locking mechanismdisengaged to allow disconnection of the components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 depict various modes of thedisclosed device 10 for engagement of scaffold members in constructionof scaffolds and similar structures. The Figures depict variousembodiments of the improved scaffold connection device 10, all of whichincorporate the unique concave engagement of components which yield theincreased resistance to disengagement of the components.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 all modes of the connection device 10 include afirst ring member 12, which is fixedly attached to a vertical scaffoldmember 15, preferably by welding. The first ring member 12 has an upperside 13 surface and a lower side 14 surface surrounding the member 15 inthe curved shape of the ring member 12.

In the most preferred mode of the device 10 shown in FIGS. 2-3, whilenot required for the engagement of the scaffold components, additionalredundancy and stability of the assembled device 10 to the member 15 canbe obtained by the addition of second ring member 21 below the firstring member and having upper side 22 surface and lower side 23 surface.The second ring member 21 is distanced below the first ring member whenthe vertical member 15 is in an as-used position during assembly of ascaffold. As can be seen, it yields a second connection to the verticalmember 15 thereby increasing load bearing capability and also addingstability from lateral force.

A connector body 16 having a descending housing portion is fixedlyattached to horizontal scaffold member 11, also preferably by welding. Aportion of the connector body 16 is adapted to operatively engage thefirst ring member 12. To this end a means for attachment of connectorbody 16 to upper side 13 of the first ring member 12 extends from firstend 17 of body 16. Preferably, such means should take the form of firsthook portion 25, which is dimensioned to descend into and matinglyengage and hook onto upper side 13 of the first ring member 12.

If second ring member 21 is utilized, a second hook portion 41 isprovided as means for attachment of connector body 16 at the bottom ofthe housing forming the cavity 29. When the second hook portion 41 is soengaged it is supported by the upper side 22 of second ring member 21.While other means of support as would occur to those skilled in the artmay be employed, currently the second hook portion 41, which iscooperatively dimensioned to matingly hook onto the curved shape of theupper side 22 of second ring member 21.

As noted a cavity 29 is provided within a housing extending from thebody 16. A latch member 18 is operatively engaged to rotate as shown onpin 31 within cavity 29, and is provided with a first end 19 extendingthrough an aperture communicating with the cavity 29. Latch member 18 ispivotal within cavity 29 so as to have an curved engagement surface 27bear against the cooperatively curved surface of the lower side 14 ofthe first ring member 12. When the latch member 18 is thus rotatedcounter clockwise, to a position below lower side 14 of first ringmember 12 a locking of the horizontal scaffold member 11 in place asshown in FIGS. 1-2 is achieved that is especially resistant to unlockingfrom lateral forces communicated to the body 16 or scaffold member 11.During engagement, the latch member 18 will rotate out of the way of thering member 12 when the first hook portion 25 is positioned on the uppersurface 13. The latch member 18 will rotate back to an engaged positionof FIG. 1 and 2, by the action of a biasing means such as spring 33engaged around the pin 31 to the latch member 18. Pressure on the firstend 19 of the latch member 18 will release the engagement by rotatingout of the way allowing the body 16 to be lifted off the first ringmember 12.

This engagement is vastly improved by the concave relief 26 in the lowersurface 14, engaging mating complimentary engagement surface 27 having aprojecting curve adapted to mate with and engage the concave relief 26.This projecting curved engagement surface 27 when engaged in the concaverelief 26 provides highly increase resistance to lateral forces fromdisengaging the body 16 from the ring 12.

In the particularly preferred mode of the device in FIG. 2, a gravitylock member 35 is rotationally engaged on a pin 31 with the latch member18 and weighted by the extending handle portion 39 such that it willnaturally rotate with gravity to engage and lock the latch member 18against the first ring member 12. This locking is achieved by gravityrotating to the lock member 35 such that a locking surface 43 engageswith a ledge 37 of an aperture 48 formed in the connector body 16.

Thus, once the latch 18 engages the bottom surface 14 of the first ringmember 12, the user releases the handle portion 19 on the latch member18 and the gravity activated lock member 35 rotates to a locked positionengaged with the ledge 37 in the aperture 48 formed in the connectorbody 16. This engagement prevents the latch member 18 from rotatingshould it intentionally or unintentionally have the handle portion beingpressed downward which would normally release the engagement with thering member 12. Thus, no accidental release may occur until the gravityactuated lock member 35 is intentionally rotated out of engagement withthe aperture 48 in connector body 16.

As can be seen, an improved scaffold connection with a concave surfaceengagement and gravity activated lock is provided which securely locks ahorizontal scaffold member to a vertical scaffold member, eliminatingthe need for driven wedges to provide such a connection. The improvedconnection is versatile in its application, and allows more efficientuse of scaffold members. Other embodiments of the invention will occurto those skilled in the art, and are intended to be included within thescope and spirit of the following claims.

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of theimproved disclosed and described scaffold connector have been described,a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions areintended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that insome instance, some features of the invention will be employed without acorresponding use of other features without departing from the scope ofthe invention as set forth. It should be understood that suchsubstitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations areincluded within the scope of the invention as defined herein.

1. A scaffold connector comprising: a first ring member having an upperside and a lower side surface meeting at a circumferential edge, saidfirst ring member fixedly attachable to a vertical scaffold member; saidfirst ring member having a recess formed in said lower side surface; aconnector body having a first end, a second end, a top side and a bottomside, said connector body fixedly attachable at said second end to oneend of a horizontal scaffold member having an upper surface; means forattachment of said connector body to said first ring member with asupport surface of said connector body in a supported positioncontacting said upper side of said first ring member; a latch member,rotationally engaged to said connector body, said latch member having afirst end having a contact surface adapted so as to be positionablebelow said lower side of said first ring member; said contact surfacedimensioned to engage within said recess descending into said lower sidesurface of said first ring member; said latch member rotatable to arotated position with said contact surface disengaged from said lowerside of said first ring member; and said latch member rotatable to aconnected position with said contact surface engaged within said recessof said lower side surface upon said connector body reaching saidsupported position.
 2. The scaffold connector of claim 1 additionallycomprising: a locking member, said locking member rotationally engagedto said latch member; said locking member having a connecting surfacedimensioned to engage an aperture in said connector body; and saidlocking member biased to rotate and engage said connecting surface withsaid aperture when said latch member is rotated to said connectedposition with said contact surface.
 3. The scaffold connector of claim 2additionally comprising: said locking member having a handle portionextending from a pin providing a rotational engagement to said latchmember; said handle portion extending away from said ring member; andsaid handle portion having a mass whereby gravity provides a means tobias said locking member to rotate and engage said connecting surface.4. The scaffold connector of claim 1 additionally comprising: a secondring member having an upper side and a lower side, fixedly attachable tosaid vertical scaffold member at a point spaced below said first ringmember; and means for attachment of said connector body to said upperside of said second ring member, extending from said first end of saidconnector body.
 5. The scaffold connector of claim 2 additionallycomprising: a second ring member having an upper side and a lower side,fixedly attachable to said vertical scaffold member at a point spacedbelow said first ring member; and means for attachment of said connectorbody to said upper side of said second ring member, extending from saidfirst end of said connector body.
 6. The scaffold connector of claim 3additionally comprising: a second ring member having an upper side and alower side, fixedly attachable to said vertical scaffold member at apoint spaced below said first ring member; and means for attachment ofsaid connector body to said upper side of said second ring member,extending from said first end of said connector body.
 7. An improvedscaffold connection, comprising: a. a first ring member having an upperside and a lower side, fixedly attachable to a vertical scaffold member;b. a connector body having a first end, a second end, a top, a bottomand sides, fixedly attachable at said second end to one end of ahorizontal scaffold member having an upper surface, said connector bodyincluding: i. a means for attachment of said connector body to saidupper side of said first ring member, extending from said first end ofsaid connector body; ii. a cavity, extending through said body andopening exterior of said body at a first opening in said first end; andiii. a support element fixedly positioned in said cavity said supportelement having a curved support surface; and c. a latch member,positioned in said cavity and having a first end extending through saidfirst opening and adapted so as to be positionable below said lower sideof said first ring member in a connected position, said latch memberbeing pivotal within said cavity and having a curved base section,matingly slidable on and supported by said support surface; d. a lockingmember, said locking member rotationally engaged to said latch member;said locking member having a connecting surface dimensioned to engage anaperture in said connector body; and said locking member biased torotate and engage said connecting surface with said aperture when saidlatch member is rotated to said connected position with said contactsurface.
 8. The scaffold connector of claim 7 additionally comprising:said locking member having a handle portion extending from a pinproviding a rotational engagement to said latch member; said handleportion extending away from said ring member; and said handle portionhaving a mass whereby gravity provides a means to bias said lockingmember to rotate and engage said connecting surface.
 9. The scaffoldconnector of claim 1 additionally comprising: means to bias said latchmember towards said ring member whereby said latch member is rotated toa connected position, with said contact surface engaged within saidrecess of said lower side surface, upon said connector body reachingsaid supported position.
 10. The scaffold connector of claim 2additionally comprising: means to bias said latch member towards saidring member whereby said latch member is rotated to a connectedposition, with said contact surface engaged within said recess of saidlower side surface, upon said connector body reaching said supportedposition.
 11. The scaffold connector of claim 3 additionally comprising:means to bias said latch member towards said ring member whereby saidlatch member is rotated to a connected position, with said contactsurface engaged within said recess of said lower side surface, upon saidconnector body reaching said supported position.
 12. The scaffoldconnector of claim 4 additionally comprising: means to bias said latchmember towards said ring member whereby said latch member is rotated toa connected position, with said contact surface engaged within saidrecess of said lower side surface, upon said connector body reachingsaid supported position.